Sony SLT Alpha 99 review: New full-frame sensor is Sony’s best yet

The new Sony SLT Alpha 99, Sony’s first full-frame DSLR equivalent in three years, combines the company’s latest and greatest 24.3-megapixel Exmor CMOS sensor with its SLT (Single Lens Translucent) technology to deliver impressive image quality combined with fast and continuous autofocus while shooting still images and videos.

When Sony released its first full-frame DSLR, the Sony Alpha 900, back in 2008, it was the highest-resolution DSLR to date and held its own when compared with competitors such as the Nikon D700 and Canon EOS 5D Mark II from the more established DSLR vendors. In 2009, Sony followed up with a lower-end full-frame model (the Sony Alpha 850) but since then has been focusing its efforts on cameras with smaller sensors, including its popular NEX line of compact interchangeable-lens hybrid cameras as well as its SLT line of cameras that utilize a stationary semi-transparent mirror rather than the flip-up mirrors in conventional SLRs.

Because there’s no need for the mirror to move up and down between shots as there is with a traditional SLR, the Alpha 99 and other SLT cameras can display live-view images constantly and autofocus works quickly and continuously while images are shot rather than needing to focus between frames.

This not only helps the A99 achieve continuous shooting speeds of up to 10 fps, but it also means that the camera can produce smoother results when using autofocus while shooting video, a feature that also benefits from the A99’s new dual phase-detect AF system (which combines a 19-point AF system with 11 cross sensors and a 102-point focal plane phase-detection AF sensor overlaying the main image sensor). It also means you can’t have an optical viewfinder, but the A99 compensates with an impressive 2.4-million-dot OLED electronic viewfinder with 100-percent coverage. (You can read more about the Sony SLT Alpha 99’s new features here.)

Further readings for the Sony SLT Alpha 99 review: New full-frame sensor is Sony’s best yet

To provide photographers with a broader perspective about mobiles, lenses and cameras, here are links to articles, reviews, and analyses of photographic equipment produced by DxOMark, renown websites, magazines or blogs.

Finally, a Sony full-frame DSLR: the last one was the Alpha 850. But though the new full-format 24Mpix camera shines with all of its new technology and features, it now belongs to the family of cameras with electronic viewfinders instead of with the Alpha 900 and its traditional DSLR viewfinder. With this new positioning, Sony stands out from among the leading lights in this market segment.

Comments

Lenses to Test

Hello,

I know it would be difficult, but is there any chance you guys can get your hands on the older Minolta glass? It is much more integral for the Sony mount since the Minolta mount is still very much a part of our system. So if you ever get your hands on the following lenses (I am a bit biased as a wildlife photographer), can you please test them as many alpha shooters still use them.

still no tests for many lens

Any news regarding the tests of broader range of high-end lens for Alpha system? The Sony 50/1.4 ZA SSM was supposed to be tested in the summer and it's still not there. People often ask for testing Sony 135/1.8 ZA or 24/2.0 too, are there any plans for them? And the new 70-200/2.8G SSM II? These are probably the lens the professionals are most interested in.

test lens

numbers don't talk to me that much... but this is not the point here. However i think the prime lens ranking is going to be bothered when you will review the 135f1.8 sony zeiss. and... the 50f1.4 sony zeiss planar! just purchased it, It's my 4th 50mm among every brands and this is stellar, contrasty as f*** straight from widest aperture. SSM crazy fast and accurate, way above all others CaNikon. Not flawless (distortion, CA f1.4), but almost, it's a must have and indirectly a must test. you must do it!

Sony 300/2.8 SSM scores much too low...

Hi,from my rather long experience with the predecessor, the still "current" 300/2.8 SSSM, there has to be a mistake in the testing of the new Sony lens - it will not be worse than the old version (or will it?). And the current 300/2.8 SSM is at least on par with the Zeiss 85/1.4 AF or the 135/1.8 AF which I use, and A LOT (and I mean: A LOT!) sharper than the Sony 35/1.4, for example - it is one of or even the best lens in the Sony system (for an impression, just look at Sony´s MTF charts).Almost everybody in the Sony forums who has access to that lens says the same... - so could there have been a mistake?A focus problem or a "faulty" lens, for example?

I would LOVE to see a retest with a second item - Sony company should be interested in putting the result right and proving the 300/2.8 SSM to be the "stellar" lens it is... - the current version is indeed!Thank you,Ruediger

First replies for this comment

Re: Sony 300/2.8 SSM scores much too low...

Hello!

Thanks for your interest in DxOMark.

Sony lenses we analyzed were provided by Sony itself. About your remark on the 35mm f/1.4, DxOMark results confirm what you noticed (please check the comparison here Sony 300mm vs 35mm f/1.4).If you only look at the Sharpness score, the 300mm is far higher rated than the 35mm f/1.4. However the DxOMark score is performed in lowlight condition. In such illumination, the larger aperture of the Sony 35mm f/1.4 enables a lower noise on the SLT A99 sensor. That means that you will finally get a similar IQ on both couples: on one side (300mm), you have a sharp image but with an higher level of noise, on the other side, the image is softer but without noise.

Re: Zeiss 50mm f1.4 ZA SSM Test ?

Zeiss Manual focus lenses

I use Zeiss manual focus lenses on my A99 and the results are amazing.Basically I purchased Nikon mount ZF.1 lenses and easily changed the mounts with Leitax mounts, now I have the best of both worlds, class leading glass, fantastic EVF with focus peaking. I did a comparison of the Excellent Sony 24/2 lens and Zeiss 25/2.8, I preferred the look of the Zeiss 25.

PLEASE test the Carl Zeiss 135mm f1.8!

I really wish you guys would do some test with this lens... A lot of us a-mount shooters feel that it could possibly be the best a-mount (prime) lens... and even the best 135mm prime on the market. I would love to see how it does (in terms of scoring)

A99 and D600

Hi I have a quick question. Does the d600 has built-in body image stabilization when shooting video? I am getting either the d600 or the a99 primarily to shoot field video for documentaries, then the body image stabilization is very important to me, but it disappoints me the price and the loss of light that the a99 has, any one knows if the d600 has any type of body image stabilization when shooting video? thanks in advance!

First replies for this comment

Re: A99 and D600

The Sony a99 has in-body stabilization whereas the Nikon d600 does not. Nikon does not provide image stabilization in any of its camera bodies, while Sony does use image stabilization in every SLT camera body. Hope that helps!

First replies for this comment

Re: Sony A99

To avoid embarrassing yourself, at least try to get your facts right? Where did you find the ridiculous 50-60% figure?

The light loss is a rather negligible 1/3 *stop* loss of light only, a difference most people can't even tell with their naked eyes.

However, camera shake and mirror vibration is completely conspicuous to the naked eye. There is in-body image stabilisation of up to 4.5 stops with ANY LENS and the total elimination of mirror vibration shake at ANY SHUTTER SPEED. Whereas you wouldn't shoot handheld at 1/8th or 1/15th of a second previously, it'll end up being your favourite range of low light setting on a mirrorless setup (ask the NEX & m4/3 users who similarly do not have mirror limitations).